Hope: Day 2
Peter tells us that in Jesus we have a living hope. By this, he means that our hope is alive-because our hope is in Jesus. When Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday all those years ago, our hope was established. Being a child of God is not something which changes based on how we feel or what we face. In fact, Peter says that the difficulties we face in this life as children of God purify and refine our faith.
In verse 13, Peter tells us that being a child of God means that you and I need to do three things in particular. First, we are to prepare our minds for action. This means we need to focus on God instead of the other things that crowd our thoughts. With our minds focused on God, we are ready for whatever may come our way. Second, we are instructed to be self-controlled. This means that no matter what comes to us naturally or what our weaknesses may be towards sin, we can fight them with the Holy Spirit’s help. Finally, Peter says we must set our hope fully upon the grace that will be given to us when Jesus Christ is revealed to us in His Second Coming. And what grace is that? It is the grace that changes us from our everyday, weak, sinful state into our perfection in heaven.
What an amazing grace to focus our hope upon. No experience, no tragedy, no struggle or problem in this life can take that from us. That grace is ours as a part of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We have a wonderful Savior and an amazing hope in Him!
Prayer focus: Pray for a deeper understanding of your position as His child. Thank Him that no matter what you face this will never change.